The England captain, Charlotte Edwards, insisted long-form cricket has a future in the women's game but said the condition of the pitches would need to be looked at after the only Test of the season petered out into a tame draw.

While a hugely attractive and suitable venue in every other respect, the flat and desperately slow Wormsley pitch made a positive result unlikely from the start. "I think Test cricket is very much alive for us, I really do, especially between England and Australia, and it's been great to see so many people watching, but maybe we need to look at the pitches and make them a bit more helpful to the bowlers because it was very hard to get 20 wickets out there," said Edwards.

But although some argue the six points on offer to the winners of the Test, with two points going to the winners of each of three ODIs and three T20s which will follow, added to the caution shown by both sides, Edwards and her Australian opposite number, Jodie Fields, defended the format. "With playing so little Test cricket we need a couple of months to prepare, and it's easier to then move on to the one-day format," said Fields.

While England's understandable decision not to chase after Fields' declaration set them a target of 249 to win off 45 overs rendered the final session tedious, there was plenty of entertainment earlier in the day.

The first hour saw Australia lose three wickets, Meg Lanning caught at mid-off from a leading edge, Sarah Elliott run out after an outstanding pick up and throw by Lydia Greenway, and Jess Cameron clip high to square leg, at which stage they led by just 125.

Another couple of quick wickets then could have left England pressing for an unlikely win, but Fields, well supported by Alex Blackwell and Erin Osborne, first ensured her side were in no danger of being bowled out and then set about the England bowling in a style that suggested the rest of the Ashes series will be very well worth watching, mixing well judged straight hitting with the occasional perfectly timed reverse sweep in scoring an unbeaten 78.

"Another couple of wickets this morning and we would have put ourselves in with a great shout," said Edwards.

The next match in the series sees the teams meet in an ODI at Lord's next Tuesday.